The Department was dissolved in 1975 by means of the passage and proclamation of The Department of Manpower and Labour Amendment Act, 1975 (2nd) c. 14.

Functional responsibility:
The Department was responsible for the administration of provincial government programs regarding labour-management relations, conditions of employment, apprenticeship training and certification, the accreditation of trade schools and employment agencies, career planning and placement, employment development, encouraging immigration, the safe construction and operation of elevators, electrical, gas and plumbing installations, and pressure vessels, the enforcement of laws and regulations regarding fire safety, the inspection and licensing of theatres and public halls in the interest of public safety and the training and accreditation of film projectionists, the registration of professionals in certain occupations, oversight of the Workers' Compensation Board, the maintenance and protection of human rights in Alberta, the examination and certification of private sector pension plans, and protection of the interests of consumers.

The Minister of Manpower and Labour was responsible for the administration of the following acts:

General:
The Department of Manpower and Labour Act
The Workers' Compensation Act
The Public Service Act

Labour-management relations and conditions of employment:
The Alberta Labour Act
The Firefighters and Policemen Labour Relations Act
The Industrial Wages Security Act
The M.L.A. Compensation Act
The Pension Benefits Act

Trades training and certification and certification of employment agencies:
The Apprenticeship Act
The Employment Agencies Act
The Trade Schools Regulation Act

Workplace and public safety:
The Alberta Uniform Building Standards Act
The Amusements Act (sections relating to amusement licensing and taxes, inspection of facilities, and licensing of projectionists)
The Boilers and Pressure Vessels Act
The Electrical Protection Act
The Elevator and Fixed Conveyances Act
The Fire Prevention Act
The Gas Protection Act
The Lightning Rod Act
The Welding Act

Professions and occupations:
The Chartered Accountants Act
Certified Dental Mechanics' Act
The Dental Mechanics' Act

Human rights protection:
The Human Rights Act
The Individual's Rights Protection Act

Consumer protection:
Consumer Affairs Act (1972-1973 only)
Credit and Loan Agreements Act (1972-1973 only)

Predecessor and successor bodies:
The predecessor of the Department was the Department of Labour. The Department had two successors, the Department of Advanced Education and Manpower (manpower development, apprenticeship training and certification and trade schools certification) and the Department of Labour (all other functions of Manpower and Labour).

Administrative relationships:
The Department of Manpower and Labour reported to the Legislative Assembly through the Minister of Manpower and Labour. A number of semi-independent agencies reported to the Minister. These agencies included the Apprenticeship Board, the Alberta Human Rights Commission, the Board of Industrial Relations, the Personnel Administration Office, the Alberta Building Standards Council, and the Workers' Compensation Board. Information on these agencies may be found in their respective sous-fonds descriptions.

Administrative structure:
The principal components of the Department were the Planning Secretariat, Administrative Services, Labour Division, Manpower Division, Inspectional Services Division, and the Human Rights Branch. The following branches were responsible for administering the various programs of the Department:

1. Labour force research: Labour Research Section (Labour Research and Immigration Division), Service Research (Planning Secretariat)
2. Planning and program development: Planning Secretariat
3. Industrial relations: Board of Industrial Relations, Labour Relations Branch
4. Labour standards creation and enforcement: Board of Industrial Relations, Labour Standards Branch
5. Pension benefits programs registration and supervision: Pension Benefits Branch
6. Apprenticeship training and certification: Apprenticeship and Tradesmen's Qualification Branch
7. Immigration programs: Manpower Mobility Branch
8. Career development: Career Planning and Placement Branch, Career Resources Branch
9. Employment development: Employment Development Branch
10. Trade schools regulation: Trade Schools Regulation Branch
11. Employment offices regulation: Board of Industrial Relations
12. Building standards enforcement: Building Standards Branch
13. Boiler and pressure vessel inspection: Boilers Branch
14. Electrical inspection: Electrical Protection Branch
15. Elevators and fixed conveyance inspection: Elevators and Fixed Conveyances Branch
16. Fire inspection and investigation: Fire Prevention Branch
17. Gas installation inspection: Gas Protection Branch
18. Plumbing installation inspection: Plumbing Inspection Branch
19. Theatres inspection and certification of projectionists: Amusements Branch
20. Human rights programs: Human Rights Branch, Human Rights Commission
21. Consumer protection: Consumer Affairs Branch

Names of chief officers:
Minister of Manpower and Labour:
Albert E. Hohol (1972-1975)

• investigation of boiler and pressure vessel accidents and worksite deaths of boiler engineers and pressure vessel welders
• investigation of worksite deaths of electricians
• planning and development of legislation related to labour-employer relations, and tradesmen and apprenticeship training and certification
• inspection of elevators and fixed conveyances
• investigation of fires
• licensing and taxation of theatres
• investigation of consumer complaints and collecting information about businesses
• collective bargaining mediation

The fonds contains correspondence, case files, administrative subject files, reports, and collective agreements.

The records have been arranged into the following series:

1. Collective bargaining agreements